OPINION - WW-P school district dropped the ball in honoring Bachner

The West Windsor, Plainsboro and Greater Mercer County baseball communities came through in a first-class manner Saturday as more than 1,000 people attended the inaugural David Bachner Day at West Windsor-Plainsboro North High.

The same, unfortunately, can't be said for the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District, which, figuratively speaking not only dropped a routine pop-up, but kicked it into the left-field corner before proceeding to turn around to sprint in the opposite direction.

Saturday was a day of celebration, as teammates, family members and friends shared stories of Bachner's life and accomplishments, both on and off the baseball diamond.

It was a day of commemoration as his No. 16 was officially -- and rightfully -- retired, a bronze plaque that had his likeness emblazoned on it was unveiled, and riveting speeches given by WW-P North booster club members Ted Phelan and Scott DeMouth helped push the tears welling in attendees' eyes down their cheeks.

For all of the good that transpired Saturday, it will forever be somewhat tarnished because of what the district did in forbidding the field dedication to be a part of the festivities, citing the need not to want to set a precedent shall any other students or student-athletes prematurely pass away.

"I absolutely feel it needs to be done," WW-P North head coach Bob Boyce said. "Not only should it be done, it needs to be done. It has nothing to do with anything outside of baseball in the West Windsor-Plainsboro community. And you're naming a baseball field; it's not like you're naming a school that everyone's going to use. Not just our baseball community here at North, but the baseball community at South, the Little League's, everyone supports it. I don't understand."

It did get done, albeit temporarily. After hearing the naming of the field would definitely not be a part of Saturday's events, an individual or a group of individuals took matters into their own hands, presumably sometime Friday night, spray painting "David Bachner Field # 16" in white paint on the tarp in left field that encases the outfield fence.

Martin Griff / The Times of TrentonWest Windsor Plainsboro North's Greg Weisbecker plays third base against West Windsor Plainsboro South in at North in Plainsboro on Saturday, May 22, 2010.

Throughout the day, more than 600 people at least 18 years of age signed a petition to dedicate the field in Bachner's honor. According to someone who was working closely with the gathering of signatures, just two people politely declined to add their name to the list.

"You have to realize Dave was larger than life on the baseball field," Scott Kelly, Bachner's longtime teammate and best friend, said. "Having a tragedy like that, I think naming the field after Dave would be the highest honor a person can have, and I think Dave deserves that honor."

The real shame of this matter is that it's becoming a divisive issue not within the community, but between the baseball community and the school district.

"That's what it is right now, and I don't want it to become a fight, because that takes away from it," Boyce said. "Can't we just do it right? I don't understand it."

One day, one way, the field at WW-P North will be officially dedicated in the honor of David J. Bachner, not only because he was a great young man who was destined for great things, but because he was unquestionably the greatest baseball player in school history, who set records on the field of play that may never be approached, let alone eclipsed.

The field dedication may come in the near future, it may not come until long after Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Victoria Kniewel; President of the Board of Education, Hemant Marathe; WW-P North Principal Michael Zapicchi and WW-P athletic director Marty Flynn have settled comfortably into retirement.

Until then, Dr. Kniewel, Mr. Marathe, Mr. Zapicchi, Mr. Flynn and everyone else in a position of influence in the district, you still have the chance to right an injustice. The question is, will you?